Subsidize Life, Not Destruction
If we track our DNA back in time, we find that we are part of an ancient family tree of life. We were born out of biodiversity – it is the living, breathing environment that made our lives possible. Losing biodiversity means destroying the specific conditions that have made human life on Earth possible. If we care about the survival of humankind, we need to stop the destruction of the web of life that we are part of. Biodiversity is the vehicle that makes our journey possible. It’s just like with a car, to keep us on the road, we need to take care of every part – wheels, engine, steering wheel, brakes, and energy supply.
So why don’t we take care of the conditions for our lives? We’re up against the brutal forces of a competitive global economy, where nations, in pursuit of advantage, subsidize industries that often devastate ecosystems. Globally, billions are still channeled into activities harming nature. Geopolitical priorities threaten our very survival. It’s a deadly competition in self-destruction."
It doesn’t have to be this way. Instead of propping up harmful industries, we can redirect subsidies to support sustainable practices and green technologies. As it is now, the huge potential for a new economic boom is held back by a rigged playing field. We could choose a new form of international cooperation instead: a worldwide race to develop solutions that balance economic security with ecological preservation.
Target 18 asks us to redirect industrial subsidies toward life-giving practices: to stop funding our own destruction. Remember, it’s our taxes, our money. We must demand that governments use these funds to safeguard life on Earth, not to enable multinational corporations to destroy the conditions for our children’s future.
Reduce Harmful Incentives and Scale up Positive Incentives for Biodiversity
Identify by 2025, and eliminate, phase out or reform incentives, including subsidies, harmful to biodiversity, in a proportionate, just, fair, effective and equitable way, while substantially and progressively reducing them by at least $500 billion per year by 2030, starting with the most harmful incentives, and scale up positive incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.